Thermostatic switching apparatus.



W. V. D. KELLEY. THERMOSTATIG SWITCHING APPARATUS. I APPLICATION FILED AUG.30, 1905.

908,679. V Patented Jan. 5, 1909.

Witnesses uvcnfoz 2A,. 42 I may/0342a UNITED STATES P TE T oEFIoE.

WILLIAM'V. 1). KELLEY, or NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND M SNE ASSIGNMENTS, 'ro ADVERTISING MIRRORGRAPH COMPANYQOF BRo0 LYN," EW

YORK, A OOPARTNERSHIP. v

THIERMQSTATIC' SWITCHING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 30, 1905. Serial No. 276,341.

Switching Apparatus, of which, the following is a specificatlon.

This switching apparatus, and more particularly has reference to devices adapted for intermittently flashing lamps or the like, such as electric signs, or advertising devices.

An object of the invention is to construct a thermostatic switching apparatus wherein a lamp or other translating device may be automatically flashed without opening the electric circuit, and thereby destructive arcing at the switch contacts prevented.

A further obj ect of the invention is to pro vide a thermostatic switch which will not be affected as to its opening or closing by variations in external temperature, and made of a single metal, instead of two metals as has heretofore been proposed, which will also be Sim is and cheap to build and capable of wit standing rough usage without getting out of order. 1

L Iii-carrying out the foregoing objects, I have .dev seda thermally operated, normally open switch having an electric heater connected in .a shunt circuit across the main switchcontacts, in combination with a lamp orother translating device, the resistance ofthe heater ibeing pro ortioned to that of the translating device, w ereby when the switch is open and the heater in series with the lamp or translating device, thenormal op crating current is cut down, and-when closed, =thelheater will be short circuited, and normal operating current permitted to flow to the lamp or translating device. By such an arrangement, the .life of the contacts is very,

considerably prolonged, inasmuch as destructive arcing will be prevented, and also "the switch rendered more regular in operation, as well as safety against fire risk .and durability increased.

In the particular embodiment of the invention, hereinlillustrated and described, wherein all of..the aforesaid objects and ad'- vantages are attained, the switch comprises two divergent bars of like materiallconnected. together at one end and secured .to;a base at invention relates to thermostatic,

"the diverging ends, together with a heater disposed to heat one of said bars, thereby closing the switch and short-oircuiting the heater. the switch is opened automatically. Inlsuch cause both bars to vary alike without affecting the opening or closing of the switch which dependently of the other. I The invention will be morer'f-u'lly understood in connection with the. description. of the accompanying drawing, whereinv Figural is a plan'view of'my. improved Fig. 3 shows a slight modification; and Fig.

translating device.

ized fi er, or the like, having an upright Zat screws 3 passing throughthe end portion 8 soldering. 9 is the heater, preferably mounted on oneof the bars, as 5, connected'at one end with the screws3, and at the other to contact plate 11, by a wire 12. Mounted on tively fixed, adjustable contact 14:, mounted may be carried by a screW'1-5, and locked in position by means of screw 16, which may-also be used as a binding, ost forithe wire leading to the translat d vices to be controlled. In Fig. 3,- a estrip is bent to form both bars, which are secured to- AS shown in the drawings, the -'expansion of the barcarrying the heating-coil completes the circuit, thereby-short oircuitingiors untcurrent to pass throughthe' bars 5, 6, to the contact plate 11. The advantage of since there is alwa devices, and by suitably ,proportioning the heating coilsjvrelativeiy .to the zlan ps, they Upon short circuiting the -heater,.

"a switch,variations of external temperature thermostatic switch; Fig. 2 is a side view;

4 shows the invention in combination with a" 1 re resents a base of porcelain, v1ilcan one end. Attached to the'upright 2, as by is a frame composed of the divergent bars 5, 6 secured together at 7, as by arivet or:

gether at the free end, as before described. i

the arrangement Shown the draw-in slis that :the maiircircuitgisneverentirelybro en,

.a' circuit through the heatingcoil-t the.amps-orether translating Patented Janvfi, L909.

is only afiected by variation of one bar inthe free end ofthe frame is a contact 13 which is movable toward and from'therelaon plate 11, when the bar adjacent the heater isaffecte'd' :thereby. The contact 14 ing the heating coil and allowing the main I operation of some n a -tr P ned a a constant temperature coefficient will be secured, that is to say, any variations in external temperature will afiect .both bars to the same extent, and not one more than the other. With formsv of thermostats heretofore proposed, there has been this objection, which has been overcome [5 some instances bydevices considerably more complicatedfand ex ensive than the construction here descri ed. The frame composed of divergent flat strips hasan important practical, advantage in its rigidity and consequent freedom from injury or accidental closing. Still another advantage is that the contact oint has alarge .movement relatively to the amount of expansion, so that a good break isv secured,

The invention is capable of various modifications and changes, without departing from'its scope, and may be combined with various forms of translating devices to obtain a periodic, automatic'operation'. I-Iavln thus .described my invention,- I declare that what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1.'In combination, an incandescent electric lamp, a normally open thermostatic switch, a heater operating 'theswitch to close the same and of such a resistance' asto dim said lamp when the switch is open, said heater being located in proximity to the thermostatic element of said. switch and 40 connected in -a :shunt around the switch, and a circuit including the lamp and the switch. i

2., In combination, an incandescent electriclamp, aswitch including a stationary A 5 member and a movable thermostatic conducting -member normally, out of contact with'said stationary, member, said thermostatic member beingbiased to move into contact with said stationary member upon being heated, a heater of such resistance as to dim said'lamp when in circuit therewith,

located in proximity to said thermostatic member and connected in a shunt around the switch, and a circuit including the lamp. and the switch members.

3. In combination, an incandescent electric lamp, a normally open switch, thermostatically operated means for closing the same, a heater of such resistance as todim 60.- .said lamp when the switch is open, located in proximity to said switch and connected in. a shunt around the switch, and. a circuit including the-lamp and the switch members.

' 4. In combination, an incandescent elec- 16 5 tric lamp, a normally open thermostatic therewith, located in proximity to said then,

lamp when in circuit therewith, located in switch, a heating coil operating the switch to close the same and of such resistance as to dim said lamp when in circuit therewith, said coil being located in proximity to the thermostatic element of said switcln and con- 'nected in ashunt around the switch, and a circuit including the lamp and the switch.

5. Incombination, an incandescent electric lamp, a normally open thermostatic switch, a heating coil wound around one -memberof said switch to close the same and of such resistance as to dim said lamp when in circuit therewith, said coil being connected in a shunt around the switch, and a circuit including the lamp and the switch.

6. In combination, an incandescent electric lamp, a switch including a stationary member and a, movable thermostatic conducting member normally out' of contact with said stationary member, said thermostatic member being biased to move into contact with said stationary member upon being heated, a heating coil of such resistance as to 'dim said lamp when in circuit mostatic member and'connected in ashunt around the switch, and a circuit including the lamp and the switch members.

7. .In combination, an incandescent electric lamp, a switch including a contact memher and a movable thermostatic-conductin means biased to move into contact with said member upon being heated, an electric heater of such resistance as to dim said proximity to said thermostatic means, and connected in shunt around the switch, and a circuit including the lamp and .the. switch. 8. In combination, anhincandescent electric lamp, a normally open switch, thermostatically operated means for closing the same, a heating coil of such resistance'as to dim said lamp when in circuit. therewith located in proximity to said switch and con nected in a shunt around the switch, and a circuit including the lamp and the switch members.

9. In combination, an element operable by electrical energy, a normally open thermostatic switch, a heater operating the switch to close the same and of such, resistance as to prevent the assage of normal "operating current when t e switch is open,

said heater being located in proximity to the thermostatic element of said switch and connectedin ashunt around the switch, and a circuit including the electrically operable element and the switch.

10. In combination, an element operable by electrical ener a normally open than mostatic switch, a eating coil operating the switch to close the same and of such resist ance as to prevent the passage of normal operating current when in circuit therewith,

.said coil being located in proximity to the.1 30

a thermostatic element of said. switch and connected in a shunt around the switch, and a circuit inc uding the electrically Operable element an e swi'tch. 4

11. In combi ation, an incandescent electric lamp, a thermostatic switch comprising two divergent bars of like material, connected together at one end, and to a'base at separated points at the other end, the free end carrying a contact adapted to move laterally when one or the other of'said bars variesin, length relatively to the other. bar, a stationary contact cooperating with said I1'1()V able contact, a heating coil of such resistance as to dim said lamp when in circuittherewith, located in proximity to the barfarthest from said stationary contact and connected in a shunt around the switch contacts, and a circuit including the lamp and the switch members.

In testimony whereof lhave signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 28th day of August 1905. p

a WILLIAM V. D. KELLEY Witnesses:

JULIAN S. Woos'rnn,

GEO. A. HOFFMAN. 

